Twin finger rings



June 14, 19.49. GERSON l 2,472,893

'IwIN FINGER RING Filed NOV. 10, 1948 INYENTOR .fz/5s @mso/v ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATEi lA'lENT OFFICE 4l Claims.

This invention relates to twin finger rings, more particularly to a pair of rings such as a wedding band and an engagement ring which can either be separately worn or joined together and worn as a unit.

Most conventional finger ring combinations have certain shortcomings which render them either diicult to fabricate, inconvenient to manipulate, unsightly in appearance when separately worn, or subject to accidental detachment when joined together. For example, certain known twin ring combinations employ levers which not only present difficult manufacturing problems, but which also require skillful manipulation on the part of the wearer to effect a joinder or disassembly of the two units; and furthermore, the levers generally do not blend readily with the ornamental design of the rings. Wherever the junctures comprise hooks, they are also unsatisfactory, particularly when separately worn, since the hook ele-ments generally protrude so as to adversely affect the design and also constitute a y source of danger because of the necessarily sharp edges or points. The joinder of a pair of rings is also frequently effected by means of screw threads, requiring the use of a screw driver or key and very careful manipulation on the part of the wearer. And there are other conventionally known structures that are either insecure-ly locked, or are so immovably held together as to result in a fracture or distortion of the juncture elements during the normal movement of the finger upon which the ring is worn.

It is primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a twin ring combination of the abovementioned category which will have none of the aforesaid shortcomings, which will effect a secure locking of the juncture elements without the use of levers, hooks or screw members, and in which the locking elements will be adapted to blend with the design of the rings so that they may be worn separately if desired without indieating that they are components of a combination, or combinatively without disclosing the juncture elements.

It is also an object of my invention to permit a suciently slight relative movement between the tworing components so as to relieve the juncture elements of any undue strain, and yet provide a firm locking engagement not readily subject to accidental detachment.

Still a further object of my invention is to enable the locking elements constituting part thereof to be effectively used in settings having various designs and piercings, without detection.

And it is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a ring set having the aforesaid features and yet which can be easily and readily manufactured.

Other e objects, features and advantages will. appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is an enlarged side elevation of an engagement ring, including a jewel setting a portion of which constitutes the male element of the locking joint.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a wedding band, also shown with a jewel setting a portion thereof constituting the female element of the locking joint.

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 taken along line 3 3.

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 2 taken along line ll--4.

Figure 5 is an end view showing the rings of Figures 1 and 2 in adjacent locked engagement.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure 5, a portion being shown sectioned for clarity.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of Figure 6 taken along line 'l'l, the locking button on the male element being shown in an intermediate position.

Figure 8 is a view substantially like Figure 7, but showing the male element slightly sprung back during the engaging process.

Figure 9 is a somewhat enlarged section of Figure 6 taken substantially along line 9 9, showing the parts in the said intermediate position of Figure 5, and

Figure 10 is a view substantially like Figure 9, but shoving the male and female elements in rm frictional engagement, with the button in its extreme locking position.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the setting I5 of the engagement ring it contains tw; oppositely disposed male elements ll, illustrated in dove-tail configuration. Extending outwardly from each of the outer surfaces |8 of elements I1 is a protuberance or buton lll. The combined thickness and shape of elements I'l and I9 is made so as to blend esthetically into the design of the setting, to create an embellished relief effect, the drawings showing said elements in exaggerated proportions for clarity. The setting I5 contains a cavity 2l] between the opposite male elements -H so as toprovide relatively thin walls 22 sufficient for slight flexing when under pressure.

The setting 23 of the wedding band 24 conB tains opposite undercut recessed portions 25 consti'futing the female elements of the locking component, each providing a dove-tail-like channel to slidably accommodate a male element i1. It is preferred that the depth of the recesses 25 be somewhat larger than the thickness of walls 22 so as to provide a slight amount of play. The walls 26 of the setting 23, constituting the bases of the recesses 25, each containing radially elongated apertures 21, adapted to accommodate therein the button I9.

In operatively assembling the rings, the ring 24 is disposed with its setting 23 somewhat below the setting l of ring I6, with one of the recesses 25 below and in alignment with the adjacent male element I1, both rings being in contacting engagement. Thereafter upward pressure is appliedI to ring 24 to cause the male element I1 to enter the recess 25. This operation is continued until the upper somewhat tapered wall 28 engages the button I9, springingthe wall 22 inwardly (Fig. 8) to permit, upon a continued relative movement of the rings, the said button I9 to enter the aperture 21, as indicated in Figure '1.

In this position the rings are operatively locked in. place. There can be no separation of the two rings in the direction of their axes, because of the interlocking engagement of the male and female elements. And there can be no separation of the two rings in the direction of their planes, since theI button I9 is disposed within the aperture 21 and is held against disengagement by the upper and lower walls 29 and 30 of said elongated aperture 21. The only way tov effect a disengagement of the two ring components is by deliberately reversing the action above described with reference to assembling the rings. In other words, if the ring 24 were to be slightly forced downwardly relativeto ring I 6 there would be again a slight springing of wall 22, to permit a disengagement of the rings.

It is important to note that it is possible for slight relative movements to be present at all times. This is due to two factors, to wit, the slight clearance 3l between the male and female elements (Fig. 6), and the elongated configuration of aperture 21 which permits a slight movement of the ring between upper wall 29 of the aperture and the intermediate position of the button shown in Fig. '1'. Such a slight relative movement of the two rings will not cause a detachment, but will, nevertheless, enable the pair of assembled rings to accommodate itself to the slight dimensional changes of the nger resulting from normal movements thereof. This slight accommodation, although not normally visible to the eye will, nevertheless, relieve the locking components of any undue stresses.

Should it, however, be desired to effect a frictional locking of the two rings, all that need be done is to forceV the ring 24 further upwardly with respectto ring I6, whereupon the male elements I-l. will come into engagement with the walls of recess.25 on ring 24 (Fig. 10), the button i9 now being in engagement with lower wall 30 of the elongated aperture 21. In this position there will be a wedging action which will hold the two rings in immovable locked engagement.

It is thus apparent that by virtue of the abovedescribed invention a single operative locking manipulation will bring the two rings into secure relation, whereby they will be held against accidental detachment in any direction, without the use of levers, screws or other complex and unsightly locking elements.

Inthe above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a twin nger ring combination of the class described, a ring with an ornamental setting, a. male locking element on said setting and projecting laterally from the ring, said-locking element having undercut side edges, a protuberance formed centrally on said locking element and extending outwardly therefrom, said locking element being relatively thin to permit a fiexng thereof under pressure and a companion ring with an ornamental setting containing a female locking element comprising an undercut channel substantially fitting said side edges of the male locking element, the base of the channel being apertured and. proportioned to receive said protuberance, whereby the protuberance will extend into such aperture when the two rings are operatively locked by the walls of the channel and said side edges of the male locking element.

2. A twin finger ring combination as set forth in` claim l. wherein a portion of the wall forming said aperture is bevelled to assist in assembly and disassembly of the said two rings.

3. A twin nger ring combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said undercut side edges on the male locking element and said undercut channel. are provided with a tapering configuration.

4. A twin finger ring combination as set forth in claim; 1 wherein said first-named ring is provided with another male locking element similar to said first-named locking element, such other male locking element being located on said setting and oppositely disposed with respect to said first-named male locking element and said second-named ring is provided with another female locking element located on the setting of said second-named ring and oppositely disposed with respect to first-named female locking element.

JULES GERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the filel of this patent:y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,536,540 Thomas May 5, 1925 1,664,994 Rea Apr. 3, 1928 2,059,228 Granat Nov. 3, 1936 

